It’s event season in Cape Town, and if you want to fit everything in, you’d best start planning your weekends now. Here’s our pick of the best events coming up at Cape Town Big 6 destinations this summer.
Kirstenbosch
Summer Sunset Concerts
The Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts are arguably the most popular Sunday activity throughout the summer. With a selection of amazing local and international artists performing in a natural amphitheatre, on the slopes of Table Mountain, it’s easy to understand why these events book out weeks in advance. Rally the friends and family, pack your picnic basket, include a few bottles of wine, and get ready for an incredible afternoon’s entertainment in the Cape’s most dramatic venue.
The Summer Sunset Concerts kick off on the 24th of November and runs until the 6th of April. Click here for the full schedule.
Open Air Cinema
Once again Kirstenbosch will be playing host to the popular Galileo Open Air Cinema series.
There are regular screenings through to the end of April 2014 – for more information and a full programme for the Kirstenbosch open-air cinema, click here.
Groot Constantia
Uncle Paul’s Christmas Parties
The ever-popular Uncle Paul’s Christmas Parties return to Groot Constantia with the same magical spirit that has made this one of the Cape’s most popular Christmas events. Once again, you will be transported from the designated Groot Constantia parking via tractor to the main arena, where the impressive castle and an evening of fun and entertainments awaits you and the family. The events are hosted by the Rotoract Club of Wynberg and all money raised is used for community projects throughout the following year.
The Uncle Paul’s Christmas Parties take place from the end of November and throughout December – for more information visit the Uncle Paul’s Facebook page.
Art in the Park
Art in the Park takes place at Groot Constantia on the 1st of December, from 10am until 5pm. It all happens on the Terraces opposite the production cellar, and you can expect to see a wide range of art exhibited and for sale in the beautiful surroundings of the Groot Constantia wine estate. For more information, visit the SASA website.
Carols on the Terraces
Groot Constantia will host Carols on the Terraces on the 19th of December between 5pm and 9pm with the Symphony Choir of Cape Town.
V&A Waterfront
Summer Magic
Throughout December the College of Magic will bring a fascinating selection of magic and illusion to the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre. This family-friendly event will leave you confused and in awe, and desperate to see and learn more.
Summer Magic is taking place every day at 3pm, from the 7th – 24th of December. All shows are free and last 45 minutes.
Open Air Cinema
For the first time ever the V&A Waterfront will host the Galileo Open Air Cinema. A selection of all-time classic movies will screen on the V&A Waterfront’s croquet lawn – perfect relaxing with family, friends, or for a romantic night beneath the stars.
Screenings are weather dependent and run until the 24th of April. Check the Galileo Facebook Page for the latest weather updates and schedules.
V&A Summer Concerts
The V&A Summer Concerts are free performances that take place in the amphitheatre throughout December and January. They are typically acoustic concerts, and this year features a wide range of some of South Africa’s top performers. On the schedule this year are the likes of Elvis Blue, Wendy Oldfield, ISO, the Rudimentals and Joshua Grierson, among many others.
For the full schedule, visit the V&A Waterfront website.
New Year’s Eve
The V&A Waterfront hosts arguably the best free New Year’s Eve celebrations in the country, and this year is no different. This year’s event is taking place on Jetty 1, which means you’ll be able to see the festivities from a number of vantage points throughout the Waterfront, and with a live feed to the amphitheatre, you won’t miss a thing. On the schedule is an impressive line-up of local acts, including GoodLuck, The Rudimentals and Freshly Ground, while comedians Martin Evans and Rob van Vuuren will bring their high-energy comedy to keep you laughing. If that’s not enough, there will be a 3D projections and light simulations, and two fireworks displays at 9pm and midnight respectively. Quite simply, there are few better places in the world to bring in the New Year.
For more information, visit the V&A Waterfront website.
Table Mountain Cableway
Sunset Special
Each year the Table Mountain Cableway offers an affordable way to get the best seat for those epic Cape Town summer sunsets – atop our African Wonder. From the 1th of November to the 20th of December, and again from the 6th of January until the 8th of February, all return tickets purchased after 6pm at the Cableway’s ticket office are half price. The Table Mountain Cableway Sunset Special means you can get to the top of the mountain and back for R107.50 per adult, and R52.50 per child. It’s quite simply the best vantage point in the city, and watching the sun slip behind the Atlantic Ocean from a thousand metres up is a memory that will last a lifetime.
